How to tell the sex of a Tropheus

[oldgeezer]

O.K. all of you Tropheus keepers please tell me how to tell the sex of a Tropheus

( delock I don't need any comments from you about this thread   )

[imagirlgeek]

Re: How to tell the sex of a Tropheus

The best way to tell is to vent them.  It's really the only reliable way to know.  Here are some comparison photos....

http://www.fishhead.com/articles/ventsex.htm

Hope this helps!

[oldgeezer]

Re: How to tell the sex of a Tropheus

Thanks Imagirlgeek that helped alot

[eklikewhoa]

Re: How to tell the sex of a Tropheus

That is about the only way you will be able to do it and they must be adults before you can accurately do it....even then it's still a shot in the dark. When they get really large some can differentiate with mouth structure.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: How to tell the sex of a Tropheus

The only 100% accurate way to sex the fish is to vent them.

This can only be done with 100% accuracy if the fish is over 3.5"

Under 3.5" it is very difficult, and 50/50 at best.  At that point it will rely heavily on behavoir patterns, and mouth shape.

In fish over 3.5", the vent (which is the opening closest to the tail) is the same size as the anus or smaller it is male.  There is some chance that a unspawned female might also be classified this way.  If the Vent is larger or wider than the anus (closest to the head) then it is female.

Males typically are more agressive, have a more pointed snout, and extra tissue around the lips.

Hope this helps..

Geoff

[oldgeezer]

Re: How to tell the sex of a Tropheus

Thanks Geoff it will help along with other info I received.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: How to tell the sex of a Tropheus

I do not know how well you like to "handle" your fish, but what really helps is getting a flashlight or a bright hanging light/desklight and get one of those huge magnifying glasses for like reading the paper or something.

Then you can really tell.

Sometimes it can be a real pain because the fish for some reason almost always want to close up the anal fins and cover themselves..

Just make sure when your handling them, your hands are clean and wet as possible.  They are a lot more tough than people give them credit for.

[bethesdaboy]

Re: How to tell the sex of a Tropheus

Lift the skirt.

[J-WS6]

Re: How to tell the sex of a Tropheus

LOL

[oldgeezer]

Re: How to tell the sex of a Tropheus

Thats a good one Mike